I truly believe that a lot of my vocabulary comes from extensive comic book reading. Goin to mom and saying "what does this word mean?" really helped (and the fact that there are pictures!!!!!!) Its a great way to get someone that may be totally disinterested in traditional reading a jump start. And after reading the comics come emulating the artists and trying to recreate their art. Then come the novels (an them er full'o werdz). Go comic books!